Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Acoelorraphe wrightii (Griseb. & H. Wendl.) H. Wendl. ex Becc. Copernicia wrightii (everglades palm, paurotis palm, saw cabbage palm, silver saw palm)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

n

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

y

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

n

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

y

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

y

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

4

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

y

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

2

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Range: southern Florida, Cuba, Belize (2) 'Not uncommon in its home in the Florida Everglades and other swampy areas in the Caribbean…' (3)NORTHERN AMERICA Southeastern U.S.A.: United States - Florida [s.] Mexico [s.] SOUTHERN AMERICA Mesoamerica: Belize; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua Caribbean: Bahamas; Colombia - Providencia Island; Cuba

(1)http://www.interaktv.com/BOTANY/PalmAtoB.html (2)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (3)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Acoelorraphe+wrightii

2.02

2.03

(1)Very adaptable; suited to tropical as well as temperate climates and can take some frost; hatural habitat acidic, swampy soils (2)Habitat Swamps, wet areas; grows wild only in Everglades National Park [in USA]. (3)it grows in large stands between the forest and the lake. [swampy habitat, Costa Rica]

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (2)http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesRECNUM.asp?recnum=TS0335 (3)http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/treat/acoelorraphe.shtml

2.04

(1)Range: southern Florida, Cuba, Belize (2) 'Not uncommon in its home in the Florida Everglades and other swampy areas in the Caribbean…' (3)NORTHERN AMERICA Southeastern U.S.A.: United States - Florida [s.] Mexico [s.] SOUTHERN AMERICA Mesoamerica: Belize; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua Caribbean: Bahamas; Colombia - Providencia Island; Cuba

(1)http://www.interaktv.com/BOTANY/PalmAtoB.html (2)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (3)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Acoelorraphe+wrightii

2.05

(1)Europe (2)evidence that it is present in Australia [but not comnonly cultivated]

(1)http://www.marblenet.es/pjse/fichaeng1.htm (2)http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/Documents/october_7_2002_approvals_committee_minutes.pdf

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

"Acoelorraphe is a widespread monotypic genus."

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=100289

4.01

(1) "Leaves: petiole strongly (rarely weakly) armed" (2)with spiny petioles

(1)http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000001 (2)http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/treat/acoelorraphe.shtml

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know

4.05

No evidence

4.06

There are no major pest or disease vulnerabilities.

http://www.palm-tree.net/species-paurotis.html

4.07

No evidence

4.08

(1)Very adaptable; suited to tropical as well as temperate climates and can take some frost. (2)Everglades tree islands or portions thereof that seasonally unundate or are saturated for extended periods. (3) '… in moist or even swampy and monsoonal areas that are often flooded with fresh or brackish water.' [wet environments]

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml(2)http://www.biologicalresearch.com/plants/plant_www.php?uniq=acoel_wri (3)Riffle, L. R. and Craft, P. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. Portland. U.S.A.

4.09

'The paurites palm thrives in full sun but tolerates partial shade.' (2) "Acoelorraphe accepts sun or shade" (3)Full sun

Riffle, L. R. and Craft, P. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. Portland. U.S.A. (2) http://www.horticulturalconsultants.com/palm/acoelorraphe.html (3)http://www.marblenet.es/pjse/fichaeng1.htm

4.1

(1) 'Tolerant of many soils, native in wet places but grows well on elevated sandy soil tolerates alkalinity. (2)Requires acidic soil for best color, and, as you might guess, an abundance of water. (3)They grow in heavy and swampy soils. (4)Tolerant of alkaline soil. [the first reference is probably reliable]

(1)Watkins, J.V. and Sheehan, T.J. 1975. Florida Landscape Plants. The University Press of Florida. Florida. (2)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (3)http://www.marblenet.es/pjse/fichaeng1.htm (4)http://gecko.gc.maricopa.edu/glendalelibrary/GLIS%20Acoelorraphe%20wrightii.htm

4.11

An erect palm.

4.12

(1)'May form dense hedges.' (2)grows in large stands [clumping form creates a thicket] (3)see second photo

(1)http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm (2)http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/treat/acoelorraphe.shtml (3)http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/library/palms/acoelorrhaphe_wrightii.htm

5.01

Arecaceae

5.02

Arecaceae

5.03

Arecaceae

5.04

A palm.

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml

6.01

Flower: Small white flowers occurring on large (several feet), upright branched clusters. Fruit: Fleshy drupe, nearly round, reddish-brown to purple-black when ripe, born on drooping clusters.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm

6.02

(1)Germination comments: Seeds from this species are......difficult to germinate and need up to 6 months to sprout. (2)AB: Temperature ranges for seed germination were determined for palm species Acoelorraphe wrightii (Griseb. and H. Wendl.) H. Wendle ex. Becc., Coccothrinax argentata (Jacq) L. H. Bailey, Sabal etonia Swingle ex Nash, and Thrinax morrisii H. Wendl. Total germination was highest with fewest days to 50% of final germination at 35.degree. C. Temperatures 5.degree. to 10.degree. above or below 35.degree. frequently caused delayed, irregular, and reduced total germination. Temperatures exceeding 10.degree. from 35.degree. generally were inadequate for germination.

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (2)TI: TEMPERATURE EFFECTS SEED GERMINATION OF FOUR FLORIDA USA PALM SPECIES AU: CARPENTER-W-J [Reprint-author] SO: Hortscience-. 1988; 23(2): 336-337.

6.03

This is a monotypic species (only one species in the genus)

http://www.plantapalm.com/centralfl/nativepalms.htm

6.04

Sex hermaphrodite. Self pollinating with one plant.

Krempin, J. 1990. Palms and Cycads Around the World. Horwitz Grahame Pty Ltd. Sydney. Australia.

6.05

"It is probably bee-pollinated"

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000001

6.06

(1)Form: Distinct clumps of upright small trees that originate from root suckers, with slender stems and small tufts of of leaves. (2)Propagation by division of the suckers from clumps is possible if the individual sucker is taken with roots and planted quickly. [grows in swampy areas; fragmentation possible during flooding]

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm

6.07

(1)Growth rate: slow (2)A slow to moderately growing palm. [minimum estimate for slow-medium growing medium sized palm tree]

(1)http://www.marblenet.es/pjse/fichaeng1.htm (2)http://gecko.gc.maricopa.edu/glendalelibrary/GLIS%20Acoelorraphe%20wrightii.htm

7.01

Probably not - relatively large fruit.

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (2)http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm

7.02

Ornamental palm.

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml

7.03

Probably not - relatively large fruit.

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (2)http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm

7.04

"Fruits ripening from green through orange to black, globose, 7.5--8.5 mm diam." [large fruit]

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000001

7.05

'Everglades tree islands or portions thereof that seasonally unundate or are saturated for extended periods. [Possible but no evidence regarding dispersal by water].

http://www.biologicalresearch.com/plants/plant_www.php?uniq=acoel_wri

7.06

"the seeds are dispersed by birds "

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000001

7.07

No evidence regarding seed dispersal.

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

(1)Fruit size about 1.5 cm (2)Fruit: Fleshy drupe, nearly round, reddish-brown to purple-black when ripe, born on drooping clusters. [relatively large fruit.] (3)In hanging clusters, to 7" (22 cm) long. [small fruit clusters]

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml (2)http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm (3)http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesRECNUM.asp?recnum=TS0335

8.02

need up to six month to sprout unless specific treatment to break dormany (warm water soaking, bleaching) [germination usually within several months an all reports were less than 1 year]

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/AcoWri.shtml

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

(1) "It is easily grown in South Texas, though it can freeze to the ground in extremely low temperatures (recovery is good the next year). This palm has a reputation as a big-time water lover; indeed, it can grow in quite swampy areas, but I have seen several thriving specimens in the Valley which get only ordinary care at best. Paurotis is invaluable as a tall screen since the clumps get so dense. I can't think of any other reliable hedge in the Valley which provides such a tropical effect. "
(2) "Form: Distinct clumps of upright small trees that originate from root suckers, with slender stems and small tufts of of leaves. May form dense hedges." [ability to sucker, regenerate from below-grond parts and form dense clumps] (3)Prune sparingly. Avoid damaging lower trunk and roots.

(2) http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/awrightii.htm (3)http://www.palm-tree.net/species-paurotis.html

8.05

Don’t know